Keystone Health Celebrates National Health Center Week

Keystone Health is marking National Health Center Week 2013 (NHCW) with a “Staff Appreciation- Italian Ice Social” as part of a weeklong campaign (August 11- 17) to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s health centers as local solutions for affordable and accessible health care.

One of the bright spots in America’s health care system, community health centers have been in existence for over 45 years and have compiled a significant record of success by:

Reducing income and ethnic health disparities nationwide, even in the poorest and most challenged communities;

Producing $24 billion in annual health system savings

Reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and unnecessary visits to the ER;

Generating a system of preventive medicine that patients use regularly to stay healthy, thus saving lives.

Health centers serve more than 22 million people nationwide, and are increasingly becoming the trusted provider of choice for many families, whether they are insured or not. Evidence shows patients choose health centers because they are convenient, affordable and offer a range of services from a team of caring professionals. Studies also show the quality of care at a health center is as good or even better than private practices.

“Every day in our waiting rooms I witness the value of having a patient-centered health care home,” said Joanne Cochran, president and CEO of Keystone Health. “When people have a place to go for regular care, they use it and stay healthier. We provide a range of services onsite – primary care services, pediatrics, pharmacy, dentistry, even mental health services. Our patients not only get the care they need under one roof, but they are treated as individuals, with dignity and respect. This is what health care should be, and what we celebrate during National Health Center Week.”

To learn more about the mission and accomplishments of community health centers please visit the Web site of the National Association of Community Health Centers at www.nachc.org.